Have you ever considered fundraising for Stand by Me?

Our wonderful supporter, Mike, recently cycled all the way from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise money for our Bethany School in Ethiopia. 

We caught up with Mike to find out his highlights from his journey.

Recently, a storm hit Colombia causing terrible flooding. Floods hit our Emmanuel Care Centre and many of our children’s houses. Thankfully everyone is safe, but there was a great deal of damage. 

“I was home with my children when the rain started. Like an avalanche, the flood came. The only thing I thought about was my children.”

Since the military took power, our incredible staff have been faithfully looking after our children and serving God through unimaginably difficult circumstances. After hearing how people’s lives have been turned upside down and the desperation many are facing, we believe that our mission to care for children in Myanmar is far from over. We are needed now more than ever.

Can you imagine day after day, sitting in school with wet clothes? This is the reality for our children during the rainy season. They get cold to their bones and struggle to concentrate in class. 

But this rainy season is different. A wonderful team donated money to buy raincoats for all our children. Our children now arrive at school with dry clothes, warm hearts and big smiles.

Our Abdi Academy School, in Ethiopia, recently ran a health drive. We want our children to make the most of every opportunity and thrive because we believe that no child should miss out on an education due to ill-health.

Due to Covid, many children in Colombia are struggling to access education. The Emmanuel Care Centre homework clubs are allowing students to still access education and use resources such as books, worksheets and computers. In a time when Covid has changed everything, the Care Centre remains a place of education, love and support.

Here at Stand by Me we want the best for our children, but we know many of our kids go home to sleep on the cold ground every night. This year 85 individuals, families, schools and youth groups took part in our February on the floor challenge to provide beds for our children. 

The children at our care centre recently received a bathtime pack and a school pack. Our staff also provided girls packs to our older girls and each family were given a hygiene pack which contained hand sanitiser and disposable masks to help families take precautions against Covid.